Terminal clip structure and method and apparatus for applying same



July 12, 1960 2,944,330

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. G. SWICK T R INAL. CLIP STRUCTURE AND ME D D APPARATUS FOR APPLYING S Filed NOV. 8, 1955 INVENTOR.

July 12, E. G. SWICK TERMINAL CLIP STRUCTURE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SAME Filed Nov. 8, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i; g. g 4 fig w a 4g A I I I I l l- I N VEN TOR.

July 12, 1960 E G. swlcK 2,944,330

TERMINAL CLIR STRUCTURE AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SAME Filed Nov. 8, 1955 4 SheetsSheet 3 INVEN TOR.

July 12, 1960 2,944,330

E. G. SWICK TE NAL CLIP STRUCTURE AND METHOD D APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SAME Filed Nov 8, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 56 105 5 J06 I V I: /J04 1:3 .40 .168

IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent The present invention relates to a novelclip structure for receiving and retaining elements such as terminal wires or prongs oi electronic tubes or the like and to a novel apparatus for applying such clips to an apertured workpiece such as a printed circuit panel.

In accordancewith conventional procedures heretofore adopted for manufacturing electronic equipment chassis" and the like, terminal clips for prongs'of elect-ionic tubes were individually appliedto :a panel or individually as sembled' with a socket member of insulatingjmaterial and the resulting assemblies'were individuallyhandled stood, the individual handlingand assembly of {bite ele- Patented July 12, ,1960

Fig. 6 is a plan viewshowing the clip structure ap plied to the apertured panel and the individual clip e'le me ts separated from each other;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary per pective view showing an individual clip element applied to an apertured panel;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a cross .sectionalview similar to Fig. 8 and showing a radio tube or the like applied to the terminal clips;

F g. is a pl iew showing a portion of a terminal I clip strip embodying a modified form of the present inent cn;

Fig. ll is a plan view showing a portion of another terminal clip strip iormed accordance with another mcd fi d f m of th p e en i Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view showing a further modified terminal clip strip;

, Fig- .1 i a persp c ve ew showi g a comp y formed tcrminal'cli element separated from the strip shown inFigilZ;

' Fig. l4'is an. elevational view showing an apparatus constructed in a cordance with the-present invention for andzapplie'd'to a workpiece or'pa nel. As will be underof time and. labor. It is, thereiore, an important ob;

ject of the present invention to provide a novel terminal clip structure or the like whereby a plurality of'indie vidual clips or groups of clips may behandled as a unit and easily, applied individually or simultaneously in groups to an apertured workpiece or panel.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatus for handling and applying to a work structure the novel; clip elements of the present invention. a V

A more Specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel terminal clip strip of simple and economical construction, and also t rovide a novel ap aratusj for separating clip elements from such a strip and applying the separated clip elements to an apertured workpiece.

Another more specific object of the present invention is to provide a novel terminal clip structure especially adapted for application to printed circuit panel's although other uses will suggest themselves, which clip structure is of simplified construction and is formed so as readily to receive tube prongs, terminal elements or the like and also securely to retain such prongs or elements. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings wherein: 1 Fig. l is a plan view showing a novel terminal clip structure including a plurality of clip elements adapted to be separated from each other after structure is applied-to a'workpiece; l 7 Fi-g 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2 2 lg; 3 a fragmentary perspective view 'ofthe novel clip structure-shown inFi'g. 1.; j v 1 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing a novel terminal.- clip strip formed .in' accordanceuwith the present-invention andincluding a plurality ofi'integtally' connected clip. structures of the. typeshown in Fig; vl, which handling the terminal clip strips and applying theterrhinalclips to an a ertured work iece;

'Fignlj is a sec'tional yiew taken along line 15-15 iifiFig. 14;v j.

Fig.716iS a sectional view taken along line lit-16 in but further showing how the apparatus functions to separate successive terminal clip structures from the "strip, form the te minal clip elements and apply the clip ele ents to an apertured workpiece or panel;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 18-48 in Fig. 17; and

Fig. 19 is" a sectional view taken along line 19-19 in Fig. 17.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, Figs. 1 through 9- show one embodiment of the present invention which includes a clip structure 20 having a plurality of clip elements 22 initially. integrally conneotedby a connecting section 24-. In order to facilitate handling of the clip structures prior to application of the clip structures to an apertured workpiece, a plurality of the clip structures 20 is initially formed in a strip 26 as shown in Fig. 4. More specifically, the clip structures are stamped or otherwise formed from a sheet of stock material in a flattened condition and. so. that a pair oi oppositely extending ele ments 22 of each clip structure is integrally connected with corresponding elements 22 of adjacent clip structures. It be appreciated that the clip structure strip may be easily handled and fed to a. work station, and in accordance with another feature ofthe present invention,-an apparatus which is described below is provided at a'work station for scparatingand forming successive clip structures and applying'the clip structures to an apertured workpiece. It will also become apparent that the extremely simple construction-of the clip struc.

, tures facilitates. their separation from the strip and ap plieation to. aworkpiece in the manner described below. ,ln Figs. 11,. 2 .and 3 the .clip structure 20 is shown separatedfromf the strip and formed so that it is readyv for application to an apertured workpiece. When the clipfstructu'resYareadapted to be formed: after separation from'the "strip so asito provide augu-larly disposed-j stud portions and'socket portions as shown in Figs. 1 through Fig. 5 is a plan "View showing the clip structure, of Fig-. 1 applied to an apcrtured workpiece jorpanel;

str icttlre. isv in this condition, each of the clip elements 22 inoludesa generally axially extending shank or finger 1 portion 2 8Ya d apted" to project through an aperture inn 0 workpiece; or panel, and a socketportion 30 for receiving a; terminal wire, tube prong orlother element to be vs Each asket-re ign g a tas W l is Fig. '17 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to I'iig. f

* ,944,sso

facing'edgesu38 and :40. I These edges are adapted to.

bite into a terminal element or prong inserted through the slot soas to resist unauthorized removal of the'terminal element and also to insurethe provision of good electrical contact'betweenfthe terminal element and'the clip. ture is formed from any suitable-sheet material or metal having the desired electrical conductivity characteristics.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the clip structure 20 hasisevenclip elements 22 adapted to be applied to a printed circuit panel 42 or the like for receiving prongs 44 of a radio tube 46 or the like. However, it is understood that the number and arrangement of clip elements in.each clip structure may be altered so as to accommodate wires or prongs of various devices. After a clip structure has been separated from the strip and the shank portions or fingers 28 have been formed to extend axially, the clip structure is applied to an apertured workpiece or printed circuit panel as shown in Fig. and in the manner described fully herein below.

elements 22 of a clip structure to be' applied, to. the workpiece simultaneously, so as'to eliminate individual handling thereof." The clip elements are subsequently separated from each other by severing the connecting portion 24 of the clip structure therefrom as shown in Fig. 6. The connecting-section 24 is severed so that the slots 32 in each socket portion extend to the resulting terminal As a result, each socket por-' ends of the socket portions. tion is provided with a pair of resilient sections at opposite sides of the slot, which sections spread apart to permit widening of the slot during insertion of a prong therein and subsequently resiliently and firmly urge the edges 38 and 48 into engagement with an inserted prong or other terminal element. The flexibility of the resilient sections may be increased, if desired, by providing an it is understood, of course, that the clip struc- Fig. 1-1 shows another modified form of the present invention which is similar to the above described structures as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suflix b added to corresponding elements. In this embodiment each of the clip structures 20b is initially provided with eight evenly spaced clip elements 22b which are arranged so that a pair of adjacent clip elements are disposed on opposite sides of ance with this embodiment cannot be easily accidentally twisted relative to each other While atthe same time, successive clip structures may be readily separated from each other and from the elements 64 and 66 with a single punching operation.

It will be appreciated that this procedure enables all'of the clip Figs. 12 and 13 show another embodiment of the present I invention whichis similar to the above described structures as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with thesuffix 0 added to corresponding elements. In this embodiment the terminal clipstrip 260 l comprises a series of single clip elements 220 rather than a series of circularly arranged groups of clip elements. It will be appreciated that the clip elements 220 may be readily separated from the strip along the lines 76 after which they may be formed in much the same manner as the clip elements described above.

large groups.

22 from becoming disassembled from the panel, and when the panel 42. is a printed circuit panel, the solder also serves to provide an electrical connection between the shank portions or fingers 28 and circuit elements 52 printed on the panel. The panel 42 is provided with an aperture 54 centrally located with respect to the slots through which the shanks 28 extend for accommodating the prongs 44 of the tube 46 and also for accommodating a punch or die used to separate the connecting section 24. The solder may be applied to the shanks or fingers In Figs. 14 through 19 there is shown an apparatus 80 constructed in accordance with the present invention for separating the above described clip structures from the strips and applying the clip structures to the workpiece or panel. The apparatus 80 includes a punch press or the like of known construction having a base 82 and a reciprocable ram 84 which is actuated by suitable means, not shown. An adapter member or master punch holder 86 is secured to the lower end of the ram 84, which punch holder rotatably carries a head member 88. The rotary head 88' is provided with a plurality of axially extending apertures 90 which, in the embodiment illustrated, are spaced 180 from each other, and die assemblies 92 are disposed in the apertures'90. Each of the assemblies 92 includes an annular die 94 axially 28 by dip-soldering in a known manner, and it should be noted that the socket portions of the clips are located entirely above the lower surface of the panel 42 so as to prevent the socket portions from being dipped into the solder and becoming clogged by the solder.

Fig. 10 shows a terminal clip strip 26a embodying a modified form of the present invention, which terminal.

clip strip is similar to the above described strip as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix af added to corresponding elements. In

this embodimenfia" plurality of clip Structures 2011 are embodiment enables the shank portions of the clip elements to be axially 'positioned before the clip structures are severed from 'the'strip, if desiredi slidably disposed in the. aperture and retained against rotation relative to the head member by means of pins 96 and 98 mounted in the head member and extending through elongated slots 100 and 102 in the punch. An inserting tool 104 which functions in the manner described below is mounted within the punch and is held against both axial and rotational movement relative to the head 88 by the pins 96 and 98. A knockout 106 is slidably disposed in a bore through the inserting tool 104, and spring means 108 extends between the punch holder 86 and. a laterally extending finger. 1100f the knockout pin for normally retaining the knockout pin in an elevated inoperative position.

At one station on the base 82 there is secured die means 112 having a shearingdie 114 cooperable with the die 94 to sever a clip structure from the strip, and a male former 116 cooperable with'the die 94 to form the shanks 28 generally axially substantially simultaneously with the severing operation. A knockout ring 118 is disposed in the slot between the shearing die section 114 and theformer 116, which knockout ring is'f'iesiliently urged upwardly by spring -means -120. After anti ens afcli structure'h'as been severed from the strip and shanks is positioned on the table 'or' 'pad 126 by any suitable means, not "shown, and the rotary head 38 is indexed by means described below so that a die assembly 92 carrying a severed and formed clip structure 20 is positioned in axial alignment withthe punch 124. Then upon the downstroke of the n me tool 104"p1-esses the shank portions 28 ofthe clip elements through the slots 130, and the 'pun'ch124' enters the central bore in the 1001104 and sevcrs the connecting section- 24 ii-om the clip structure as shown inFig; 17.? At the same time, another clip structure is severed fromthe strip andie formed also as shown in Fig. 17. It is necessary to re tain thepunch v94 at the severing'and forming station above'the die means 112 against upward movement while I punch member-. 94 at the' clip' element as'sefrnbIy:.-Pa1 1 separating station to rise/when it engages thegpanel 'or workpiece 42 so as to prevent: injury to the :jpanel; "-In order to accomplish this,thegmernber'fifi project's at least partially; over "theupper nds of the punches :94, and a camsurfacc 132*i's'provided at the underside of the member 86, which cam surface is substantially flushwith the upper surface of the rotary head 88 adjacent Y the severing and formin-gfistation andl is 'substa ntially spaced above the upper. surfaceof the rotal'ry nets-"as adjacent the assembly. andtsep'aratin g statiom After each assembly and, separation operatioin, the'knockout' pin' 110 ofthel appropriateassembly 9.23s actuatedli n themanner'describedbelow; a l- I As shown in Fig 15', guiderm'ean's134whichmaybe oi any suitable constructionisw-pronided for directinga strip 26 or the like of terminal clip structures to thesevefi ing and forming station. Feeding means. 136 which is schematically illustrated is provided fonin'termittently advancing successive: clip structures of the" strip to the severing and forming station in timed rclationship'with the, receprocable movement of the lfam 84. Thefpeding means, may, for example, include ar'ec'iprocahlje finger adapted to engage an edge or aperture. oi successive 'cl-ip structures and positively advance the strip, s

Means is provided for indexing the rotary head '88 in timed relationship with movement of the ra n '84, and this means includes a 'f'ri'ction roller 1'38 fixed'on a rotatably mounted shaft 141 anden g a ging the periphery ofthe head 88. The shaft 140, driven by electric motor 142 or from any other suitable source of power through gears 144 and 146. A reciprocable looking ,at the same time, his necessary to permit theother 6 delay switch 162 of known construction, which "time: delay switch, when energized upon closing of the switch 156, serves to connect 'the motor 142 with a source of power and then to disconnect the motor after the passage of a predetermined interval of time. The switch 156 is also electrically connected with another time-delay switch 164 which, in turn, is electrically connected with the solenoid 150. The solenoid 150 is spring biased so that when it is deenergized. the locating pin' 148 is retracted-from the locating slots on the periphery of the rotatable head 88. The time-delay switch 164 after being energized upon closing of the switch 156 functions to disconnect the solenoid 150 from a source of power sothat the locating pin 148 is retracted. After the passage of a predeterminedtime' interval, ,the'switch 164 connects the solenoid 150 with the source of power so that the locating pin 148 is extended, which pin rides on the periphery of the rotatable head 88 until the head is turned sufficiently to align one of the locating slots with the pin whereupon the pin enters the slot.

The solenoid 1-54'is spring biased so that when it is deenergized the actuating member 152 is held in the retracted position shown in Fig. 14. The solenoid 154 is also connected with the switch146 sothat it is energized upon closing of the switch so as to shift the member 152 into position...for engagement with a knockout'pin 110 'duringthe initialportiori of the upward stroke of the ram."

' A brief resume ofathe operation of the apparatus '89 i isas follows. With the elements of the apparatus in the positions shown in Figs. 14 and 16, a strip ofterminal clipsis positionedwith the leading clip at the severing and forming station and Ta. workpiece-or panel 42*is locatod at the assembly and separating station. Thenthe 84 is actuated downwardly so that the leading clip structure is severed from the strip and formed in the mannerdescribed above. As the ram approaches the lower limit of its stroke, the plunger 158 of the switch 156 rides up on the cam 160 so that the switch 156 is closed and the time delay switches 162 and 164 and the solenoid 154 are energized. As the ram then begins its upward stroke after the motor 142 has been energized, the locating pin 148' has been retracted and' the actuatingjmember 152 has been extended, the friction drive pin 148 actuated by a solenoid 150 is provided for enber 152 actuated by a solenoid 154 is provided for em gaging the knockout pin 110 at the assembly and separating station during the upstroke of the ram so as to cause the separated connecting section 24 of a clip structure to beejected. i

The drive motor 142, the locating pin 148 and the knockout actuating member 152 are operated in timed relationship with each other andwith the movement of the ram by suitable means such as that shown schemati-' Wheel 138 starts to index the rotatable head 88 and the actuating member 152 engages the knockout pin 110 disposed therebeneath. As the ram continues its upward movement, the locating pin 148 is extended in' the manner described above, and the plunger 158 of the switch 156 rides, off of the cam 160 so that the solenoid 154 is deenergized and the actuating member 152 is retracted to clear the advancing knockout pm 110. The locating pin 14% then enters an advancing locating notch or slot in the periphcryof the rotating head, and the time delay switch 162 functions to deenergize the drive motor 142. During the upward stroke of the ram, the strip feed means 136 functions to advance the next clip structure to the severing and forming station. Then the above described cycle is repeated and the previously formed clip structure is applied to the panel 42 and the individual 7 elements of this clip structure are separated from each other at the assembly and separating station. The cycle is repeated as often as necessary for applying thedesired number of clip structures to an apertured panel, and it is understood that suitable means, not shown, may be provided for feeding or locating the panel to locate different groups of preformed'clip-receiving apertures at the assembly and separating station.

While the dies and punches shown in Figs. 16 through 19 have been specifically for-med for use in connection with the above described strip 26 and clip structure 20,

cally in Fig. 14. More specifically, a switch 156 having 2 an actuating plunger 158 is located so that the plunger is operated by a cam member 160 fixed on the ram.

a it is understood that the dies and punches may be modified for use with the other above described or similar terminal clip strips. For example, when the strip 26a is to be used, the annular punch and former 94 may be provided with a slot for accommodating the connecting fingers 58 so that these connecting fingers may subsequently be separated from the clip structures along with the central connecting section 24w. When the strip 261) is to be used, a similar slot or recess may be provided in the punch 94 so that one of the eight clip elements of each of the clip structures may be left unformed and may be subsequently separated with the central connecting section 24b, if desired.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appende claims. I I

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A sheet metal strip of terminal clips or the like comprising a series of substantially flat clip structures including a plurality of circularly arranged clip elements integrally connected by a central connecting section, clip elements of each of said clip structures adjacent a longitudinal axis of said series being integrally connected with similarly located clip elements of an adjacent clip structure, said last mentioned integrally connected clip elements being sevcrable forpermitting the clip structures to be applied to an apertured workpiece, each of said clip elements including a socket portion for overlying one side of a workpiece for receiving a terminal element or the like and integrally joined directly to one of said-cens tr-al connecting sections and a finger portion integral with and extending from the socket portion for insertion through a workpiece aperture from said one side of said workpiece,'each of said socket portions having slot means therein for receiving a terminal or the like, each of said slot means extending through an adjacent connecting section, said sl-ot means normally having a width less than the width of a terminal to be received therein, said central connecting sections of said clip structures being severable from the clip structures after the clip structures have been applied to a workpiece so as to separate the clip elements from each other and to open ends of said slot means for facilitating spreading of the slot means for accommodating a terminal. a

2. A sheet metal strip of terminal clips or the like, as defined in claim 1, wherein said clip elements adjacent said axis are substantially bisected by said axis, and

wherein said last mentioned clip elements provide the only connection between adjacent groups of clip elements.

3. A sheet metal strip of terminal clips, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said clip structures includes a pair of clip elements adjacent to and at opposite sides of said axis and integrally connected with a similarly located pair of clip elements of an adjacent clip structure.

4. A sheet metal strip of terminal clips, as defined in 'claim 3, which includes a longitudinally extending element atone side of thevstrip and integrally connected with generally laterally extending clip elements of each of said clip structures so as to reduce anyposs'ibility of said clip structures twisting relative to each other. p

5. A sheet metal terminal clip or the like for application to an apertured workpiece comprising a generally axially extending finger portion for insertion into a workpiece aperture from one side .of a workpiece, and an integral socket portion extending laterally from said finger portion for overlying said one side of a workpiece, said socket portion having slot means therein for receiving a terminal element or the like and having one end extend: ing to a free terminal end of said socket'portion, one of said portions including enlarged, aperture means therein intersecting an opposite end of said slot means, .said slot means being defined by elements between opposite, ends thereof inclined downwardly from an upper surface of said socket portion at an acute angle toan axis of the slot means disposed substantially normally to said socket portion and providing relatively sharp upper corner edges closer together than lower corner edges for engagement with a terminal element or the like for restraining removalof said terminal element or the like from the slot means, said upper edges initially being spaced apart a distance less thanthe width of a terminal element or the like'to be inserted therebetween, and sections of said Socket portion at opposite sides of said slot means ":being resiliently yieldable to permit spreading'of said upper edges during insertion of a terminal element or the like therebetween and for ,resiliently'urging saidlupper edges 7 intoengagement with an inserted terminal element or the like.

6. A sheet metal terminal clip structure including a plurality of terminal clips as defined in claim 5, said terminal clips. being generally circularly arranged, and a centrally disposed connecting section integrally connecting said terminal clips for facilitating simultaneous application of said terminal clips to an apertured workpiece, said, connecting section being severable from said terminal clips to separate the terminal clips on a workpiece from each other. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,273,099 Gilbert Feb. 17, 1942 2,376,625 Schmitt May 22,1945 2,680,902 Amico June 15, 1954 2,705,797 Handel Apr. 12, 1955 2,727,236 Klumpp Dec. 20, 1955 2,730,732 Nielsen Jan. 17, 1956 2,748,452 Pierce June 5, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 661,989 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1951 

